David Mellor short chronology

Born in Sheffield, 5 October 1930 - 7 May 2009

Trained at Sheffield College of Art; the Royal College of Art; the British School at Rome.

1954

Set up silversmithing workshop in Sheffield; designer and maker of silver for the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, the Cutlers' Company, Southwell Minster, Essex University, Darwin College, Cambridge. Other early commissions included a range of silver tableware for use in British Embassies, and a fountain in bronze for the University Botanic Garden, Cambridge.

Concurrently opened industrial design office. Consultancies, from 1954, included Walker & Hall, the Post Office, British Rail, Grahamston Ironfounders, James Neill Tools. Consultant to Department of Environment on design of traffic signals 1965-70. These are still in use.

1957

'Pride' cutlery in silverplate included in first of the Design Centre Awards. Later Mellor won a further seven Design Centre Awards, including four for cutlery.

1960

Commissioned first studio-workshop in Sheffield from Patric Guest of Gollins Melvin Ward. This is now a listed building.

1962

Elected Royal Designer for Industry.

1969

Opened first London shop, David Mellor, Sloane Square, selling professional range of kitchenware and tableware.

1973

Set up workshops for specialist cutlery production in Broom Hall, Sheffield, a historic Sheffield building, the conservation of which received an Architectural Heritage Year Award.

1981

Appointed OBE.

1990

Completed a new purpose designed cutlery factory, in collaboration with the architects Sir Michael Hopkins & Partners, at Hathersage in the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire. The Round Building has won numerous architectural and environmental awards.

1998

Major retrospective exhibition at the Design Museum, London and Sheffield City Art Galleries.

2001

Appointed CBE.

2006

Opening of The David Mellor Design Museum at Hathersage, designed by Sir Michael Hopkins.

David Mellor was Chairman of the Crafts Council 1982-4 and a Trustee of the Victoria & Albert Museum 1983-8.

He holds Hon. Doctorates from the University of Sheffield, De Montfort University, Sheffield Hallam University, Loughborough University and the Royal College of Art.

He was married to Fiona MacCarthy, the biographer and cultural historian. Their son Corin Mellor (b.1966) is now Creative Director of David Mellor Design. Their daughter Clare (b.1970) has her own London based graphic design company.

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